Animal-trap.



H. M. MILLER.

ANIMAL TRAP. APPLICATION BIL-ED .TAN.18, 1912.

1,059,896. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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TTNITED gTATE9 PATENT UFFTQF.

HENRY M. MILLER, OF MADISON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO SEIGEL WORKMAN AND M. A. BYRNSIDE, OF MADISON, WEST VIRGINIA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Application filed January 18, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Boone, State of est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to animal traps, and has for its object to produce a device of this character which may be baited, and after set will automatically operate for a number of times without attention.

A further object of the invention is to construct a trap adapted to be placed upon a receptacle containing water, and when sprung will project the trapped animal into said receptacle.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view the cover removed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a base, and upon which is secured the cylindrical metal casing or cage 2, and in one side of which is formed an opening 3 to permit the animal to enter the casing or cage.

Formed in the base 1 is a semicircular opening 4, the upper open end of which being inclosed by the cage or casing 2, thus forming a similarly shaped floor 5.- The floor is covered with a metal plate 6 so that the trap may be readily cleaned upon the removal of the top 7. The top 7 is made of wood and is provided with a metal cover 8. The top 7 is provided with a recess 9, and in which is mounted a coiled band spring 10, the same being for the purpose of rotating the vertical shaft 11, which projects a short distance below the under surface of the top, the purpose of which will appear later. To the spring shaft 6 is secured a gear 7 which meshes witha pinion 8 carried by the shaft 11. The shaft 6 is squared on its upper end for the application of an ordinary clock key, indicated at 9, by means Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913. Serial No. 671,937.

of which the said shaft may be rotated to rewind the spring.

Formed in the floor 5 is a bearing 12, and in which is seated the reduced end 13 of the rod 14, said rod having its upper end formed with a squared socket 15 for detachably receiving the projected end of the shaft 11, which is also squared. Thus it will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 11 by the spring 10 corresponding movement will be imparted to the rod 14. The rod 14 has secured thereto a vane or plate 16, the upper and lower edges of which are bent upon the vane or plate, said edges being split, as at 17 to form sockets for receiving the upper and lower ends of the rod 14. The vane or plate 16 is formed at its central portlon with a semicircular depression 18, and in which the rod 14 is seated and soldered or otherwise suitably secured.

Upon each side of the vane or plate 16 is pivotally mounted a trip lever 19, one end of which is formed with a platform 20 while the other end is projected a short distance beyond the edge of the vane or plate 16, the purpose of which will appear later. Having its upper end secured to the upper end of the vane or plate 16 is a coiled spring 21 the lower end of said spring being connected to the trip lever 19 intermediate its ends. A stop 22 is secured to the vane or plate 16, and acts to limit the pivotal movement of the trip lever 19 in one direction. A hook 23 is secured near the upper edge of the vane or plate 16 and immediately above the platform 20, said hook serving to suspend the bait for enticing the animal within the casing or cage 2. Secured upon the interior of the casing or cage 2 adjacent the opening 3 1s a post 24, said post being in the path of the projected end of the trip lever 19. Thus it will be seen that the vane or plate 16 is rotatably mounted within the cage or casing 2, and that upon winding of the spring 10 the vane or plate 16 will be caused to make a half revolution upon an animal stepping upon the platform 20 in its attempt to reach the bait on the hook 23, and releasing the projected end of the trip lever from the post 24.

By providing trip levers 19 upon both sides of the vane or plate 16, one of the pro jected ends thereof will engage the post 24 upon each half revolution, thus resetting the trap after each operation. To retard the starting movement of the vane or plate 16 a leaf spring 25 is provided, and has its lower end" secured to the floor o and its upper end positioned in the path of travel of the vane or plate. After the trap has been sprung, and the vane or plate 16 is operated to project the animal through the opening t formed in the base 1, said animal will drop upon the hingedly connected trap door 26, the weight of the animal being sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 27,where upon the animal will fall into the receptacle 28, and the trap door will return to its closed position.

It is obvious that the receptacle may contain salt water, so that the device may be eifectivewvhen placed in unheated places, it being a well-known fact that salt water will not freeze.

What is claimed is:

All animal trap comprising a base having anropening formed therein adapted to communicate with a receptacle upon which the trap; is. placed, a cage or casing mounted upon the base and inclosing the opening therein, a top for said casing, a spring operated shaft carried by the top, a rotatably mounted vane or plate mounted in the cage or casing, a rod secured to the vane or plate the upper end of said rod being provided with a socket for receiving the spring operated shaft, trip levers pivotally connected to each side of said vane or plate the outer ends of which project therefrom, an opening formed in one side of the casing or cage, a post secured. adjacent said opening, said post being adapted to engage either one of the projected ends of said trip levers, platforms carried by the inner ends of the trip levers, coil springs connecting the trip levers and said vane or plate,vwhereby when an animal steps on one of the platforms the trip levers will be rocked. to disengage their projected ends from the post thereby allowing the vane or plate to rotate to project the animal through the opening; in the base into the supporting vessel.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses" HENRY M'. MILLER;

lVitnesses i F. G. LEFTWIGH, H. G. SHAFFERM Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents; Washington, D. G. 

